Off to Bangladesh this morning for a week or so of consultations on power stations.

Up at 04.30 to catch the Bell Bus mini-bus to Pattaya Nua Bus-station for the 6.00 a.m. bus to Su.Boom.

Although I had put shampoo, shaving cream and so on in the suitcase for cargo, i slung my more-than-half-used tube of toothpase in the carry-on, 'cos I was too lazy to re-open the suitcase.

Get to Su'boom, check-in, brekkie, shopping and off to the final check at gate C1. Asked if there are any liuids in my baggage I say 'No' - not recalling the used tothpaste tube.

Baggage through X-ray, big drama.

Ordered to open the carry-on, everythiing tossed, then the fat, ugly security woman seizes my toothpaste and says 'Not allowed'.

Response - "It's <deleted> toothpaste"

Response - "Not allowed"

Response - "Gimme" and i put it back in my carry-on.

Response - "Not allowed" and she takes it out again. "More than 100ml" she says.

Response - "Rubbish - It's nearly empty"

Response - "Look - 150ml" as she points to label.

Response - "Rubbish - it's <deleted> empty"

All this is gathering a crowd behind me, of people anxious to get on the 'C' embarkation wing of the airport. (Or more likely to the Smoking Room) So I take it no further.

But a squeezed-out toothpaste tube?? Are these people really as stupid as security guards are held to be?

And why is this check not held before the original check-in, so that the passenger can have a chance to put these things into the cargo baggage? Or gve it to someone who is seeing him off (if anyone does)?

That's my rant of the day.

Off to Bangladesh this morning for a week or so of consultations on power stations.

Up at 04.30 to catch the Bell Bus mini-bus to Pattaya Nua Bus-station for the 6.00 a.m. bus to Su.Boom.

Although I had put shampoo, shaving cream and so on in the suitcase for cargo, i slung my more-than-half-used tube of toothpase in the carry-on, 'cos I was too lazy to re-open the suitcase.

Get to Su'boom, check-in, brekkie, shopping and off to the final check at gate C1. Asked if there are any liuids in my baggage I say 'No' - not recalling the used tothpaste tube.

Baggage through X-ray, big drama.

Ordered to open the carry-on, everythiing tossed, then the fat, ugly security woman seizes my toothpaste and says 'Not allowed'.

Response - "It's <deleted> toothpaste"

Response - "Not allowed"

Response - "Gimme" and i put it back in my carry-on.

Response - "Not allowed" and she takes it out again. "More than 100ml" she says.

Response - "Rubbish - It's nearly empty"

Response - "Look - 150ml" as she points to label.

Response - "Rubbish - it's <deleted> empty"

All this is gathering a crowd behind me, of people anxious to get on the 'C' embarkation wing of the airport. (Or more likely to the Smoking Room) So I take it no further.

But a squeezed-out toothpaste tube?? Are these people really as stupid as security guards are held to be?

And why is this check not held before the original check-in, so that the passenger can have a chance to put these things into the cargo baggage? Or gve it to someone who is seeing him off (if anyone does)?

That's my rant of the day.

The oddity you encountered was a Thai "official" that actually stuck to the rules You are not allowed to bring on board any fluid or gel in a container larger than 100 ml. I don't know who came up with the regulation (or why ) but it's the same pretty much the world over.

Here are the EU regulations, just as an example:

Specific restrictions on liquids

Restrictions on the quantities of liquids, gels or pastes are:

•they must be held in individual containers not exceeding 100ml

•the containers must be carried in a separate, clear-plastic, zip-top or re-sealable bag

•the bag must not exceed 20cm x 20cm (8ins x 8ins) in dimensions

•the bag must not exceed one litre (1.75 pints) capacity

•the bag must be completely closed

•the items must fit comfortably in the bag

•the bag must be x-ray screened separately from other hand baggage at airport security points.

You can purchase duty-free liquids at the airport or on board if your journey is wholly within the EU.

For other journeys and destinations, you should refer to the specific country restrictions.

We advise you not to purchase liquid items in duty-free shops until you reach an EU airport.

I.e. this was not a case of stupid security guard or TiT, it was an unusual example of somebody actually doing his/her job

/ Priceless

Same think happened to me, sort of. Had a full 150 ml tube. Said "can not". So I squeezed 1/2 of it out in to their trash bin. Still, "can not". So I threw the rest in the bin and moved along.

Same thing here: at CNX no problem, but on return (the next day) at Swampy it was a no-no for a half-full tube.

Try it in another international airport and see how far you get. Frankly, after all the time this regulation has been in place I am amazed you made a big deal over half a tube of toothpaste.

Be grateful I wasn't one of the ones behind you cause I would have told you to get over losing the 50 baht and throw the dam_n thing away

You could have ended up like Simon Burrowes!!

Da Rules are Rules.

I'd bet airport staff are enjoying free (part used) tioletries worldwide

It was the same 2 years ago on the UK!!!

Dave

I know the rules and usuallly prepare for this by putting everything in my cargo suitcase.

One needs to prepare for some other countries - for instance in Vietnam it is almost impossible to find shaving gel outside Saigon or HaNoi - I had to catch people flying from Ca Mau to HCMC (Saigon) to bring back shaving gel and Colgate toothpaste, which were not available anywhere in Ca Mau.

In Dhaka it is difficult to find toothpaste - my office staff needed to have it explained to them, as they are not aware of it. (And this is Dhaka - the capital, and Banani District, one of the better districts).

But to do the check before checking-in would enable people to transfer stuff from cabin baggage to cargo without problems.

SBK - now I see why you're a mod - quick to take offence and attack the poor defenceless civilian

Why ain't I a mod then?? 'Cos I spent my life as a rocker???

Rules are rules. For all they know you could have had a co-conspirator traveling on the same flight also carrying 1/2 a tube of toothpaste. All you would have to do then is combine them and you would have a full tube of toothpaste. With 150ml of paste onboard there is no telling what you could do!

Rules are rules. For all they know you could have had a co-conspirator traveling on the same flight also carrying 1/2 a tube of toothpaste. All you would have to do then is combine them and you would have a full tube of toothpaste. With 150ml of paste onboard there is no telling what you could do!

Given all the Bunglers on the flight fresh breath ????

I know the rules and usuallly prepare for this by putting everything in my cargo suitcase.

One needs to prepare for some other countries - for instance in Vietnam it is almost impossible to find shaving gel outside Saigon or HaNoi - I had to catch people flying from Ca Mau to HCMC (Saigon) to bring back shaving gel and Colgate toothpaste, which were not available anywhere in Ca Mau.

In Dhaka it is difficult to find toothpaste - my office staff needed to have it explained to them, as they are not aware of it. (And this is Dhaka - the capital, and Banani District, one of the better districts).

But to do the check before checking-in would enable people to transfer stuff from cabin baggage to cargo without problems.

SBK - now I see why you're a mod - quick to take offence and attack the poor defenceless civilian

Why ain't I a mod then?? 'Cos I spent my life as a rocker???

You don't strike me as being particularly helpless and defenseless, HB

You don't strike me as being particularly helpless and defenseless, HB

But frequently legless.

Some of the rules do seem to be a bit mad! I remember when flying from Liverpool to Dublin was just like getting on a bus. Show up at the last min, grab some duty free and leg it on to the plane. Not so now, show up 2 hours before take-off queue for the whole time, answer a shed load of pointless questions, leave late, arrive late - all for a 20 min flight.

Let's remember the good ole days with fondness.

Rules are rules. For all they know you could have had a co-conspirator traveling on the same flight also carrying 1/2 a tube of toothpaste. All you would have to do then is combine them and you would have a full tube of toothpaste. With 150ml of paste onboard there is no telling what you could do!

Given all the Bunglers on the flight fresh breath ????

I'm not up to date on terrorist bombing trends. Maybe clean bombs are the new dirty bombs?!?

Some of the rules do seem to be a bit mad! I remember when flying from Liverpool to Dublin was just like getting on a bus. Show up at the last min, grab some duty free and leg it on to the plane. Not so now, show up 2 hours before take-off queue for the whole time, answer a shed load of pointless questions, leave late, arrive late - all for a 20 min flight.

Let's remember the good ole days with fondness.

i remember some good old days more than thirty years ago when the Baader-Meinhof gang committed terroristic actions in Germany. when taking a Lufthansa flight from Riyadh, Dhahran or Jeddah to Frankfurt you went with a bus to the aircraft, got out, waited (if you were unlucky) an hour or so in a queue on the tarmac till it was your turn that not only your hand luggage but your checked-in luggage too was searched by german plainclothes men before you could board.

Only an hour? You were lucky! I had to wait on the tarmac, six hours, in the pouring rain without an umbrella. They searched your hand baggage, your checked baggage, strip searched you AND did an intrusive body search on the tarmac in front of everyone else. Worst part of all, they kept my half tube of toothpast from my checked baggage...

Only an hour? You were lucky! I had to wait on the tarmac, six hours, in the pouring rain without an umbrella. They searched your hand baggage, your checked baggage, strip searched you AND did an intrusive body search on the tarmac in front of everyone else. Worst part of all, they kept my half tube of toothpast from my checked baggage...

They didn't use it for the intimate body search?

Naam - wasn't all bad - (around 1980) I flew down from Tabuk to catch the BA flight to London, but the flight from Tabuk was late. Missed the BA flight check-in (they had closed the check-in but not taken off), rushed round to trusty Lufthansa (in my Holtzmann jacket) and they found a seat for me and booked me on to London - no extra charge.

With no cargo baggage I just walked on the plane.

Some of the rules do seem to be a bit mad! I remember when flying from Liverpool to Dublin was just like getting on a bus. Show up at the last min, grab some duty free and leg it on to the plane. Not so now, show up 2 hours before take-off queue for the whole time, answer a shed load of pointless questions, leave late, arrive late - all for a 20 min flight.

Let's remember the good ole days with fondness.

i remember some good old days more than thirty years ago when the Baader-Meinhof gang committed terroristic actions in Germany. when taking a Lufthansa flight from Riyadh, Dhahran or Jeddah to Frankfurt you went with a bus to the aircraft, got out, waited (if you were unlucky) an hour or so in a queue on the tarmac till it was your turn that not only your hand luggage but your checked-in luggage too was searched by german plainclothes men before you could board.

Naam - nothings changed!!

Ok, the new Jeddah Airport (in 1980) is better than the old one, but is still one of the worst in the world - still get bussed out to the planes and then either wait in the bus for 10-15 minutes, or de-bus and wait on the tarmac. Even then, that is more comfortable than waiting in the terminal departure lounge.

And when Hajj finishes !!!! There's 100,000 African Hajjis waiting outside the airport for planes to arrive from Chad, Sudan, etc., up to 10 days.

I know the rules and usuallly prepare for this by putting everything in my cargo suitcase.

One needs to prepare for some other countries - for instance in Vietnam it is almost impossible to find shaving gel outside Saigon or HaNoi - I had to catch people flying from Ca Mau to HCMC (Saigon) to bring back shaving gel and Colgate toothpaste, which were not available anywhere in Ca Mau.

etc.

prohibited substances?...airports?...CA MAU???

reminds me of a story...(oh, no... )

(tutsi and HB both worked on a project at Ca Mau a couple of years ago at different times and with different employers)

it was about 6 a.m. in the airport in Ca Mau in SW Vietnam and tutsi is feelin' no pain...I poured a slug of Vodka Hanoi into my cup of coke from a half empty boddle. Two plainclothes cops (they'd be less obvious in Santa suits) came up and growled 'no drink in airport!'. I said 'sorry occifer (stupid grin), I won't do it again'. I kept on drinkin'...

later, stumbled across the tarmac to the airplane and found a seat then promptly passed out to be wakened after landing at HCMC by alarmed cabin crew one of whom asked if I wanted a doctor? I said 'naw...ain't nothin' another drink can't fix...'

stumbled outta the airport into a taxi to go to the Hosen Hotel in District One where I was to rendevous with a hooker that had been pretending to be my girlfriend. Had about two hours to wait for her to show up...started fingerin' the wad of bills in my pocket an' thinkin' 'that receptionist downstairs sure is nice; young, pretty, innocent...I bet she makes $5 a day an' has got 10 mouths t' feed...'

tutsi misbehaves inna totalitarian milieu...

prohibited substances?...airports?...CA MAU???

reminds me of a story...(oh, no... )

(tutsi and HB both worked on a project at Ca Mau a couple of years ago at different times and with different employers)

it was about 6 a.m. in the airport in Ca Mau in SW Vietnam and tutsi is feelin' no pain...I poured a slug of Vodka Hanoi into my cup of coke from a half empty boddle. Two plainclothes cops (they'd be less obvious in Santa suits) came up and growled 'no drink in airport!'. I said 'sorry occifer (stupid grin), I won't do it again'. I kept on drinkin'...

later, stumbled across the tarmac to the airplane and found a seat then promptly passed out to be wakened after landing at HCMC by alarmed cabin crew one of whom asked if I wanted a doctor? I said 'naw...ain't nothin' another drink can't fix...'

stumbled outta the airport into a taxi to go to the Hosen Hotel in District One where I was to rendevous with a hooker that had been pretending to be my girlfriend. Had about two hours to wait for her to show up...started fingerin' the wad of bills in my pocket an' thinkin' 'that receptionist downstairs sure is nice; young, pretty, innocent...I bet she makes $5 a day an' has got 10 mouths t' feed...'

tutsi misbehaves inna totalitarian milieu...

The project was supposed to last two years and we were lucky to finish it in four.

I wonder why

Had a chat with a "security enforcer" in Germany a while ago, questioning the stupidity of those laws. He said a couple of days earlier some passenger wanted to bring in a bottle of Whiskey and was not allowed to do so.

Passenger opened the bottle and drank it more or less empty. Barfed and boarded the plane

I recall hearing/reading about a man in uniform being stopped at such a security check point and having some minor item removed as it possed a threat to the safety of the aircraft, the man in uniform point out that he was in fact the pilot of the aircraft in question and if he wanted to smash it into the ground he could do so with out the aid of the nailclippers/toothpaste etc. that 'security' had demmed such a threat.

^ Reminds me of the charming gent who was relief First Officer of EgyptAir 990... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EgyptAir_Flight_990

I have no idea why guys NEED shaving gel or cream.

A 100ml container filled with hair conditioner lasts me a month or more.

Conditioner, gives the smoothest shave ever, lot cheaper too than shave gel.

I know guys insisting on using shave gel etc are brainwashed.

About half a teaspoonful on wet hands is all ya need for smoothest ever shave.

I have no idea why guys NEED shaving gel or cream.

A 100ml container filled with hair conditioner lasts me a month or more.

Conditioner, gives the smoothest shave ever, lot cheaper too than shave gel.

Does it work on your face as well?

I just use plain soap for shaving (on my face, as well!)... don't most people?

E: (I just read this back and had a wee laugh. Yes, I also use a razor...)

Only in Bedlam could people squeeze 28 posts out of half a tube of toothpaste.

^29

Only in Bedlam could people squeeze 28 posts out of half a tube of toothpaste.

But look at the story-line

From toothpaste being banned from Thai Air, through Mods, drunken orgies in Vietnam, how to use conditioner instead of shaving gel and a dozen stops in between.

We're a versatile lot.

With the attention span of a gnat.